Manchester City’s goal hero Erling Haaland promised to hunt Arsenal down in the Premier League title race.
Haaland reached 20 goals for the season with a double during Wednesday night’s 3-1 victory over Leeds United.
The win took City within five points of Mikel Arteta’s league leaders as they gun for a fifth league crown in six years.
‘Arsenal, we have to hunt them,’ Haaland said. ‘Now we have to show who is the best team in the league.’
With just 14 matches under his belt, Haaland is already only four goals shy of beating the golden boot tallies of the last four campaigns.
And the 22-year-old refused to celebrate either finish at Elland Road, where his father Alfie played before joining City.
Haaland grew up a Leeds fan and added: ‘I have a target but I cannot say it.. I just said inside the dressing room that I could have scored five but the most important thing is that we won.
‘To be honest, I get really p***** when I miss. That’s the truth. But when I miss, I want to score even more.
‘My father and mother were on the tribune today. It’s special. I’m happy – it’s a special moment in my career.
‘When I was young, I had an Erik Bakke shirt in my room and a jersey of my father. It’s crazy – it was a fantasy of mine to score here for City.’ The Norway international warned defenders that he is now even more motivated to dominate the division.
‘I’ve been at home, a bit mad that I’ve not been at the World Cup. I recharged my batteries,’ Haaland added. ‘Watching other people score to win games at the World Cup triggered, motivated and irritated me. I’m hungrier than ever.’
Pep Guardiola revealed that Haaland’s foot is becoming stronger after suffering an injury in October but he is still not match fit – even after he was afforded rest during the break for the internationals.
Guardiola challenged Haaland to improve and believes there is significantly more to come from the striker. City were fearful for his fitness after he failed to train with the squad during a warm-weather camp in Abu Dhabi at the beginning of the month.
‘I don’t think he’s at his best but the injury he had at Dortmund… he couldn’t train one single day in Abu Dhabi,’ the City boss said.
‘To move this huge body is not easy. He’s not at his best but he’s an incredible threat. The numbers are unbelievable but he’s not here just for the numbers, he wants to win trophies.
‘The little pace he had at the beginning of the season he doesn’t have [now]. He was a little bit sharper and the reason is injuries. It is a question of time. He is getting better. He is a huge competitor.’ Leeds boss Jesse Marsch, who managed Haaland at Red Bull Salzburg, congratulated him on the pitch at full time.
‘Watching him score is painful, I want him in a different kit,’ Marsch said. ‘You want him at his best, just not against you. But when you see these young men, their qualities as people, you want them to do well. I’m really happy for him, he’s such a great person.’
Guardiola named Kalvin Phillips on City’s bench after criticising the midfielder for returning from the World Cup ‘overweight’ and stopped him from training with the squad.
‘He has the perfect body now – so sexy,’ Guardiola said. ‘We will see for the weekend. He has spent the first part of the season out. It’s not about just being fit but understanding what we want to do, the movements.
‘Rodri cannot play all the games. But I’m happy that on Tuesday for example Kalvin trained really well and sooner or later he will play.’
Jack Grealish, who ended with two assists, was the target of rough treatment from Leeds and Guardiola – who accidentally booted a water bottle towards the home dugout in frustration – refused to be drawn on the standards of officiating.
Guardiola said: ‘There were many, many things that happened but the first thing is a yellow card for an 18-year-old boy [Rico Lewis]. The referees are there.’
SOURCE: dailymail.co.uk
